Boy, 3, 'thrown into' crocodile enclosure at UK zoo as man arrested

A three-year-old boy has been rushed to hospital after he was thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Cambridgeshire.

The boy is said to have serious injuries, but is in a stable condition.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The police do not believe the boy and the man were known to each other.

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The incident happened at Johnsons Zoo, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire at 1.24pm this afternoon.

Detectives from the Major Crime Unit have launched an investigation and specialist officers are supporting the young boy's family, while he is being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Detective Inspector Verity McCann said: "At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances.

"We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other.

"Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital and our thoughts remain with them.”

Ben Obese-Jecty MP for Huntingdon, said he was “liaising with senior officers” following the incident.

He wrote on social media: “I am aware of the incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident.

“This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online.

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“The police will provide an update with further information in due course.

“My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time."

Johnsons of Old Hurst, according to its website, is a family-run farming business which now has a butchers, tea room, steakhouse, farm shop and zoo.

The zoo boasts more than 100 animals, including tigers, lions, sloth bears, meerkats and crocodiles.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “Our thoughts are with the victim and their family but as this is a live police investigation, we cannot comment any further.”

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